Whatever we do,let's not forget the burbot (江鲟) , a dark,mysterious,unusual creature which lives down deep in the bottom of deep lakes.

   The fish is “fat looking and a little bit soft”. With large flat heads,small eyes,downtumed mouths full of sharp teeth,they are not exactly pretty. They are also extremely slimy(粘糊糊的) and under the chin is a single long,fleshy barbel(鱼的触须) ,

giving the impression of a goatee(山羊胡子). These characteristics are important. Their teeth are essential for catching a huge variety of food. “They’ re a very greedy animal,says Steve Simpson,marine biologist and lover of burbot at Exeter University. “There are reports of them eating birds,eating snakes,eating frogs 一 they really will eat anything they can get.”

   Once upon a time,they were ice-age fish that once swam freely in a cold world,until the ice moved away 10,000 years ago leaving small populations throughout the northern hemisphere including eastern England. For several months a year burbot can be trapped under ice 一 they need cold temperatures to lay eggs and all that unpleasant thick ice provides excellent protection.

   Although still present throughout the rest of Europe and North America,the only burbot in England today can be found in the rooms of the Natural History Museum in London, preserved in jars. The Angling Times offered a reward of £100 to anyone who found one in the UK,but that money lies unclaimed.

   When it comes to animals threatened with extinction,the cute and soft ones tend to get the most attention. But what about the unattractive ones that go unnoticed when their numbers start to become gradually smaller and smaller? Someone has got to speak up for the burbot.

5. Which of the following best describes burbot's appearance?

   A. Bony. B. Ugly.

   C. Small. D. Attractive.

6. The burbot .

   A. eats a lot

   B. is a light eater

   C. is a picky eater

   D. eats many kinds of food

7. For what purpose do burbot stay under ice?

   A. To go to sleep. B. To meet friends.

   C. To produce eggs. D. To look for food.

8. What does the underlined part “that money lies unclaimed” mean?

   A. A reward of £100 is not appealing at all.

   B. The English don't care much about money.

   C. The burbot only lives in the bottom of lakes.

   D. The burbot has disappeared in British waters.

9. What is the author's attitude towards the burbot?

   A. Worried. B. Critical.

   C. Crazy. D. Proud.

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